Apparatus for transport of goods

ABSTRACT

A goods stacking platform comprises a base frame having a post upstanding from each corner, and a laterally projecting foot rigid with the lower end of each post having a fixed axis pivot connection to the base frame located to one side of the post providing for movement of the post between an erect upstanding position to a collapsed folded position substantially flatly overlying said base frame. Axially slidable offset locking pins distinct from the pivots are mounted on said base frame for displacement into corresponding apertures in the lower ends of said posts when the posts are erect.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Cyril Taylor l2, Tristan Ave.,Walrner Bridge Lancashire; Theodore Howe, 17, Hey Houses Lane, St.Anues, Lancashire, England [21] Appl. No. 751,820

[22] Filed Aug. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [54] APPARATUS FORTRANSPORT OF GOODS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CL. 108/53 [51] int. Cl 865d 19/18 [50] Field ofSearch108/51-58 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,911 1/1955Chase et a]. 108/53 2,704,194 3/1955 Diamond... 108/53 2,756,894 7/1956Phillips 108/53UX 2,956,763 10/1960 D'Arda 108/53 3,327,654 6/1967Duncan,etal 108/53 FOREIGN PATENTS 969,970 9/1964 Great Britain 108/53Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn 0. FinchAttorney-Norris & Bateman ABSTRACT: A goods stacking platfonn comprisesa base frame having a post upstanding from each corner, and a laterallyprojecting foot rigid with the lower end of each post having a fixedaxis pivot connection to the base frame located to one side of the postproviding for movement of the post between an erect upstanding positionto a collapsed folded position substantially flatly overlying said baseframe. Axially slidable offset locking pins distinct from the pivots aremounted on said base frame for displacement into correspondingaperturesin the lower ends of said posts when the posts are erect.

f nmw HUATT llllfll! 5 Shoots-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

CYRIL TAYLOR ET AL Patented March 9, 1971 3,568,608

3 Sheets-Sheet B IO 74 I INVENTOR:

CYRIL TAYLOR ET AL BY Patented March 9, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

CYRIL TAYLOR ET AL APlPAllATlJS lFQlt TRANSPORT F GOUDS This inventionis concerned with the bulk transport of goods on road and rail vehiclesand on ships. in the transport industry, stacking platforms are used towhich have a bottom platform on which goods can be placed and uprightlegs at the cornets to support a second platform spaced above the firstplatform. This type of stacking platform is often used stacked threehigh on a quayside or six high in cellular ships, and can be slung froma crane for loading and unloading.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method oftransport which'utilized utilizes a modified form of stacking platform.

According to this invention, goods are transported on stacking platformshaving upstanding legs which legs are collapsible on to the platformitself, but can be locked in the upstanding position, and the pladormsare returned with their legs collapsed so that they occupy less heighton the transporter during the return journey than on the carryingjourney.

in order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carriedinto effect, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FlG. l is a perspective view of three stacking platforms embodying theinvention arranged in upstanding condition one upon another;

H6. 2 is a side view of the platforms in a collapsed condition;

PKG- 3 is a perspective view (drawn to a somewhat larger scale thanFIGS. l and 2) of one corner of one of the stacking plad'orms, a cornerpost of the platform being shown in the upstanding position;

FlG. 4 is a further perspective view of one corner of the platform, acorner post of the platform being shown in the collapsed condition and afurther platform being shown in chaindotted lines overlying it; and

Flt 5 is a perspective view (drawn to a slightly smaller scale thanFlGS. 3 and showing the constructions of the corner posts.

Referring now to the drawings, a stacking platform has a rectangularbasal part incorporating a e base frame made of welded steel channelsand rolled steel joists on which a wooden floor is laid to support thegoods to be transported. The platform is a convenient size for carryingon a lorry or taller.

Side members ll) of the channel section and end members l2 also ofchannel section meet at a corner casting M to which they are welded.Each corner casting is of standard size (arrived at by internationalagreement) and the lateral and iongitudinal spacing of the castings alsoconforms to a standard so that in this way a standard platform orcontainer of any make can be stacked upon any other standard platform orcontainer of the same nominal size. The corner castings are providedwith apertures to through which chains or hooks can extend for liftingthe platform.

Respective corner posts 1% are provided at the corners of the base frameand are pivotally mounted so that they can be arranged in upstandingcondition as shown in FlG. 3 or in a collapsed condition as shown inFlG. 4. Each corner post comprises a main angle section 2i? with anangle section 21 of somewhat smaller cross section welded within it asshown in FlG. d. A length of steel bar 22 of rectangular cross sectionis welded within the main angle section at one end of the post toproject laterally therefrom, and a pair of holes 24 and 26 are drilledand reamed in said bar.

The mountings for the corner posts at the four corners of the base frameinclude respective plates 23 welded at the extreme ends of the sidemembers it) and blocks 3% welded in parallel with said plates, portionsof the channel section members ill and 12 having been cut away toaccommodate said bloclrs. Aligned pairs of holes 352 and 34 are drilledand reamed in the plates 2% and blocks Bil. The holes $2 of eachmounting accommodate a fitted bolt 36 which extends through the hole 24in the bar 22 of the respective corner post and about which the cornerpost can be pivoted between its upstanding and collapsed positions. Theholes 34 on the other hand are provided to accommodate a locking pinBill which can be slid axially through the hole 26 in the bar 22 of thecorner post to retain the latter in the upstanding position. The lockingpin is slidably mounted in a bracket 4% within the channel member 12 anda stop 42 is provided to prevent it being withdrawn completely from theblock 30 when being withdrawn from engagement with the corner post topermit the collapse of the latter. The locking pin is provided with alever 44 to facilitate the sliding of the pin, and a stop 46 is providedfor the abutment of said lever to prevent the accidental withdrawal ofthe pin 38 when the corner posts are in their upstanding positions. Itwill be seen from the foregoing that a lower part of each corner post isof L-shape configuration, an extremity of the foot of the L beingpivotally connected to the basal part of the platform whereby in itscollapsed condition the corner post can lie flat upon the basal part ofthe platform. The locking pins 38 are of substantial size since it willbe understood that when a loaded stacking platform is lifted by theapertures of the head castings of the corner posts the entire load istaken by the locking pins. The bolts 36 then serve to prevent the cornerposts from rocking about the axes of the locking pins 34 and in thisthey are aided by abutment plates 48 which join the upper portions ofthe plates 28 to upstanding gusset members 50. The upper edges of theplates 23 and all and of the gusset members 50 provide surfaces on whichanother platform can be; placed, when the corner posts have been foldedflat, as shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 4. Lugs 52 of a taperingshape which are welded at an angle to the gusset members fitl ensurethat the platforms can be rested accurately one upon another in theircollapsed condition.

The stacking platforms illustrated in H6. l are shown to be providedwith upstanding posts 54 md midway along their longitudinal sides, butthese are merely slotted into apertures formed in the basal parts of theplatforms andare simply laid flat upon the basal parts when the cornerposts have been collapsed. The platforms illustrated are also providedwith lifting lugs as which are slidably mounted whereby when not in usethey can be retracted so that they do not protrude further than theflanges of the side members it). Means are, of course, provided toensure that they cannot be withdrawn completely from the apertures inwhich they slide.

Thus there is provided a method of transporting stacking platformstoand-fro, that is to say, mounted one upon another, on the outward(loaded) journey with each platform in an erected condition and on thereturn (empty) journey with each platform in a collapsed condition sothat they occupy less height than on the outward journey. There is alsoprovided a design of stacking platform whereby this method canconveniently and safely be carried out.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention. For example, the actual design of the basal part of theplatform may be varied according to the load to which it is to besubjected, and the number of l-sections and/or channel sections andtheir size will be chosen accordingly. Furthermore, the platform may beprovided with removable ends and side panels, and these may be made ofwood or metal or framed wire netting. Alternatively, the platform may beenclosed by waterproof fabric sheets after loading in normal manner.

We claim:

1. A stacking platform comprising a base frame having corner structures,a post upstanding from each corner structure, a laterally projectingfoot rigid with the lower end of each post, means providing a fixed axispivot connection between each said foot and said base frame located toone side of said post providing for movement of the post between anerect upstanding position to a collapsed folded position substantiallyflatly overlying said base frame, and axially slidable locking pinsdistinct from said pivots mounted on said base frame for displacementinto corresponding apertures in the lower ends of said posts when theposts are in erect position, said locking pin receiving apertures beingoffset with respect to said pivot connections.

2. The stacking platform defined in claim 1, wherein said

1. A stacking platform comprising a base frame having corner structures,a post upstanding from each corner structure, a laterally projectingfoot rigid with the lower end of each post, means providing a fixed axispivot connection between each said foot and said base frame located toone side of said post providing for movement of the post between anerect upstanding position to a collapsed folded position substantiallyflatly overlying said base frame, and axially slidable locking pinsdistinct from said pivots mounted on said base frame for displacementinto corresponding apertures in the lower ends of said posts when theposts are in erect position, said locking pin receiving apertures beingoffset with respect to said pivot connections.
 2. The stacking platformdefined in claim 1, wherein said locking pin apertures are formed in thefoot portions of said corner posts.
 3. The stacking platform defined inclaim 1, wherein said locking pins slide parallel to the associatedcorner post pivot axis.